Founder

CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE MARCH 2006
FORCE FOR GOOD SWEEPS INTO W.A
By Colleen Clay

A life force with a goal to help others swept into W.A in 2001 when Momentum Women’s Forum founder Barbara McNaught arrived from South Africa on our shores.

In only five years, Barbara has raised funds for many charities while forging new bonds between the business and social community of W.A.

The European actor has played many roles on screen and on arrival in W.A discovered it lacked a strong film industry. Disappointed but not deterred, Barbara decided to put her skills to use in the community.

“Oprah Winfrey’s example got me moving,” Barbara said. “She has set so much good in America and Africa. I wanted to do something similar and get a charity machine running that would be fun, positive and draw people together.”

Through her Momentum Womens Forum “Pink” charity balls and lunches, Barbara has increased the level of interaction in the local business community, giving business people an opportunity to connect and network at each event.

“The original aim of Momentum Womens Forum was to hold regular luncheons at which women and men could get to know each other and discover how to support each others’ business enterprises, while supporting a designated charity,” Barbara said.

“Fun-raising is how I describe the activities of Momentum Womens Forum. It is exhilarating to see people enjoying themselves while engaged in an act of generosity.”

The fundraiser lunches are held quarterly and the charity balls are held twice a year . Last year, Momentum Womens Forum also got behind the Variety Club’s Christmas Party.

“There is the deepest sense of satisfaction when I hand over the big cheque to the charity we’ve nominated for any event,” she said. “W.A people are fantastic givers –they’re generous and so helpful. Those cheques couldn’t happen without them.”

The Cancer Council of W.A has been one of the groups that have benefited from the fundraisers.

An amazing number of sponsors have jumped in wholeheartedly to help Barbara keep the money rolling into charity coffers. Among them are this magazine, Conscious Living, the West Australian newspaper, television Channel 10, radio station 92.9 and Placecol.

Prizes for Members

“Our business sponsors and members are invited to put their logos on our website. They also enter business member draws and are given discount tickets to our balls and lunches. Some prizes they’ve provided include diamonds and trips.

“Our social members gain through being automatically entered in member prize draws and with discount tickets to the events.”

At the lunches, guests are treated to a five star, three-course meal, a fashion parade and a guest speaker. In addition, one member is nominared who is able to speak to the group at the lunch about her business.

Guest speakers range from the hilarious to the serious,” Barbara said.

“We loved Perth City Councilor’s Max Kay’s appearance. He’s a trooper – a comedian of note in W.A, and he kept us laughing until there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

“A woman who is an inspiration for me is Australian of the Year for 2005, Dr Fiona Wood. When she was our guest speaker we discovered she is a human dynamo who keeps going through all hours, working through days and long into nights, traveling great distances, in her efforts to better the lives of others through her work.”

Barbara’s role as the engine of a fundraising machine differs greatly from those she played on screen-and requires more energy.

As Barbara Nielsen, she has acted in movies all over Europe and in Austraia in 25 lead roles.

While living in South Africa, Barbara took on the challenge of raising one million Rand in one year for the National School of the Arts. Her achievement resulted in the school’s refurbishment.

For now, however, she is intent on maintaining Momentum Women’s Forum as a force for good. The demands of this role require her to be fit and well, and to be an ideas person. She stays on top of the game with walks regular exercise, a multivitamin supplement taken daily, drinking plenty of water each day and following the European style of eating, which is small portions eaten slowly. To keep track of the multitude of processes in her office, she tends to make lists.

As Oprah Winfrey might tell Barbara: You go girl!

BARBARA NIELSEN - CV

Appeared in the following:-

WEST GERMANY

• "Alte Kahn Und Junge Liebe"
• "Swarzwald Fahrt Aus Liebeskummer"
• "Auch Mimosen Wollen Blumen" (with Kurt Jurgens)
• "Tully" - Co-production with Australia (with Jack Thompson)
• "Hetzjagd" - Co-production with Yugoslavia
• "Derek" - TV serial (with Hort Tapert)

FRANCE

• "La Fiancee Qui Venait Du Froid" - Directed by Charles Nemes
• "Tranches De Vie" - Directed by Francois Leterier
• L'Annee Des Meduses" - Directed by Christopher Frank

SOUTH AFRICA

• "The Sentimentalist" - TV Drama (with Arnold Vosloo)- Directed by Robert Davies
• "Lambarene" (with Malcolm MacDowell, Susun Strasberg) - Directed by Grey Hoffmeyer
• "Egoli" - TV serial
• "Decimal Point" - TV drama - Directed by Rudi De Nata

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